Display carton



Feb; 15, 1932. E p. SHERMAN 1,845,564

' DISPLAY CARTON Filed Jan. 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 may 3 g 5i gag, mmvro.

irogr .7? csfiarwan Feb. 16, 1932. E, SHERMAN 1,845,564

DISPLAY CARTON Filed Jan. 10, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 2 m INVENTOR.

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Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE ELBOY P. SHERMAN, OF ASHTABULA', OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE ASH'IAIBULL COB-- BUGATED BOX COMPANY, OF ASHTAIBULA, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01! OHIO DISPLAY CARTON Application ma January 10, um. Serial an; 507,885.

My invention relates to display cartons, and more particularly to improvements in a corrugated paper display carton which I have designed to be used also as a container for 8 shipping. There are other types of paper display cartons in use, but I am aware of none that have a display mechanism similar to the one herein described, and none that so adequately combine the functions of shipping 1 case and display carton, or that can be assembled and knocked down with so little labor as the one herein described.

My invention aims to provide the most suitable means for displaying such classes of i merchandise as are packed in small packages,

such as seeds, for example, or bottled and canned goods with a number of difierent kinds or brands. Another purpose of my invention is to rovide the est means for combining such display carton with the style of paper carton that 1s customarily used in shipping, and so arranging the arts as to greatly facilitate assembly for hot purposes, while at the same time maintaining that simplicity of structure necessary to economy of manufacture. To theaccomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out so in the claims.

My device consists of a rectangular box in which is erected a number of trays supported underneath by step elevations held in place by a cross piece, and supported laterally by side elevations to which the trays extend,

and in the rear by a back elevation consisting of the lid of a carton raised to a perpendicular position, the step elevations, .cross piece, side elevations, and elevated back being collapsible and fitting into the box in a manner most convenient for shipping. The carton and all of its parts are made throughout of corrugatedpaper, or other suitable material, of a thickness and stiffness suitable to the size of the container and the class ofmerchandise for which intended.

nism embodying the invention, such disclosed I means constituting, however, but'on'e of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Flg. 1 is a perspective view of the box or carton set up as a display stand; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carton closed for shipping; Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively longitudinal and transverse sections corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the box as knocked down for shipp1ng; F-ig. 6 is a longitudinal section correspondlng to Fi 5; Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view 0 the step or shelf spacing and supporting means; and .Fig. 8 is a detailed.

view in perspective of one of the tray 0011- tamers. i In Fig. 1, the main receptacle met the carton is a rectangular box which serves as a foundation and container for the display arrangement erected therein, and is of the same size as the packagp when ready for shipping, as shown in ig. 2. When the carton is closed, as in Fig. 2, the side pieces 21 and 22, and the trays 17., 18, 19 and 20, shown 1n Fig. 1, and the step elevations 14: and 15, with the cross bar 16, shown in Figs. 4 and 7 are all placed com actly on the bottom of the box 10. The ack, 11A, of the dis lay carton, is the lid ,11 of the box shown in ig. 2, raised to a perpendicular plane, 30 being hinged in the usual manner for the purpose, and extends to a hei ht above the top of the upper tray 20, to ho d the tray 20 in position, to form a sufiicient background to properly set 05 the contents, and to achieve symmetry in appearance. The trays 17-20 shown in Fig. 2, and particularly in Fig. 8, are the immediate receptacles for the articles to be displayed, and are placed on the two parallel step elevations 14 and 15. These trays 17-20 are made of inflexible corrugated paper of the same or thin-- ner than that in the box pro er, are of rectangular shape being long an comparatively narrow, and having their back side extended merchandise on display.

The tray supports o'r elevations 14 and 15 as above suggested, are a series of steps, four in number in the specimenselected for dovertically to facilitate arrangement of the scrip tion, with each step as deep as the width of the tray, and of a height slightly less than the height of the entire extended back of a tray. The front of the lowest step fits ti glitly against a reinforcement running across the inside of the front of the carton and of the same thickness as the sides of the carton, and the level of the upperstep is below the upper level 21A and 22A of the side pieces 21 and 22 to a distance exactly corresponding to the depth of a single tray. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, these step elevations lie flat on the bottom of the main receptacle 10 when not in use, and are attached to the bottom by paper hinges and 51, so that when erected they are merely raised to a plane perpendicular witlithe bottom. These hinges are of heavy paper of a suitable width, which is glued to the side of the step elevation next to the ends 23 and 24 of the box, and at the bottom thereof being'glued also to the bottom interior of the boiv'between'the step elevation and the side elevation, and being glued to the inside of the side elevations 21 and 22 in amanner corresponding to that in which the hinge is atlixedto the step elevation, serving as a hinge for the side elevation as well as the step clevationfthe whole hinge arrangement bein g best described as U-shaped. lVhen erected, the step elevations are held in place by the cross piece 16 notched vertically near the ends to coincide with the corresponding notch in each of the step elevations.

Thelength of the cross piece is such that it exactly touches the side elevations 21 and 22, shown in Fig. 2, serving to support both the step elevations and the side pieces. The side elevations 2i and 22 are also collapsible, lying fiat upon the bottom as above indicated, so that they may be readilv elevated to a perpendicular position. The bottom portion of the collapsible sides is rectangular, corresponding in shape exactly to the end of the main receptaCleIO, and fitting closely therej in. At a-height even with the upper edge of 10, this side piece is tapered upwardly at an angle on a line with the front corners of the elevated trays, the upper edges 21A and 22A being'horizontal and on a level with the upper tray, as shown in Fig. 2, and perpendicular to the back 11A of the carton. These side elevations 21 and 22 fit snugly against the ends of the trays serving to keep them in place on the stepped uprights, and are in turn supported in an erectposition by the trays which extend exactly to them.

The display construction is knocked down by removing the trays 17420, slipping out the notched cross-piece l6, and folding the step elevations 14: and 15 flat on the bottom of 10, and on top of them, folding flat in a similar manner the collapsible side elevations 21 and'22, which fit neatly 'in the bottom, comingjust short of touching the ends of 10,

the above manner of folding being shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6. The step elevations and side elevations being fastened in a hinged manner, enables them to be knocked down readily into the proper position without any fitting and adjusting. The slotted crosspiece is then placed flat on these, just under the trays. The trays 172() with their contents are then placed longitudinally in 10, on top of the collapsible elevations and cross piece, fitting snugly side by side, and leaving plenty of room above the trays for the inser tion of any additional materials desired by the shipper. The back 11A then comes down, being hinged as indicated, and forms the lid 11. shown in Fig. 2, said back being horizontally jointed near the upper edge, to form a section which is inserted into the box 10 in the usual manner when the lid comes down, holding the lid down and closing the carton.

Certain advantages of the device above described may be briefly pointed out. The car ton being adapted to use both as a shipping and a display case, eliminates double handling and accomplishes a substantial saving in time and equipment. Due to the collapsible mechanism, the size of the closed carton is reduced to a minimum, effecting a saving in space required when storing or shipping. Being lighter in weight than most types of display cases, an economy in freightis inevitable. Further, being constructed throughout entirely of corrugated paper. it is much more economical in the cost of the materials used than wood or metal display cases, representing a considerable saving in manufacture. A saving is also accomplished in decoration, as such is often desirable on display cases of this type and when corrugated paper is used, the desired color or other decoration may be printed thereon less e2 pensively than on Wood, and without the separate operations frequently entailed with wooden or other materials.

Due to the absence of'particularized detail, the carton is suitable to a. Wide variety of uses, being readily adapted to the neat display of any class of merchandise where bottles, cans, envelopes, or any small sized containers are used.

Futhermore, the construction of the case being of a very compact nature, makes it practical to pack a number in a larger packing case, further facilitating the ease of handling and also acting as a cover and serving to keep the outsides in a usable condition.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. 2

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a display carton, a rectangular box with back and side elevations and a series of 5 trays supported on two parallel step elevations perpendicular to the front of the box, said step elevations being notched vertically at the back of one of the treads and held in an npriglit position by a cross-piece, said cross-piece being notched near the ends to correspond with a notch in each of the paral' lel step uprights, and extending beyond the step uprights exactly to the side elevations.

2. In a display carton, a rectangular box with back and side elevations and a series of trays supported on two parallel step elevations perpendicular to the front of the box, said step elevations being notched vertically at the back of one of the treads and held in an upright position by a cross-piece, of the same thickness as the sides of the carton and of a width approximately equal to the extended back of one of the trays, said cross-piece being notched near the endsto correspond with a notch in each of the parallel step uprights, and extending beyond the step up rights exactly to the side elevations.

3. In a display carton, a rectangular box having trays on parallel step elevations held so in position by a cross-piece, and having elevated sides and back, said trays being removable, said cross-piece being nemovable, said step elevations and side elevations being collapsible, and so arranged as to lie fiat on the bottom of the box when knocked down, said cross-piece and trays fitting compactly over the flattened step and side elevations, said elevated back collapsible in such manner as to form a lid covering the Whole, said lid-being jointed in a manner adapted to fastening in said box.

Signed by me this 6th day of January, 1931.

. ELROY P. SHERMAN. 

